Mark Wilcox/Daily Mining Gazette The Houghton County Fairgrounds looked like a frozen wasteland at noon Sunday and the beginning stages of what is predicted to be a "historic weather event" descended on the Keweenaw.

HOUGHTON — It might be a day or two early, but the regions fabled “St. Patrick’s Day Storm” brought heavy snowfall, high winds, poor visibility and hazardous driving conditions beginning Sunday. The National Weather Service issued a hazardous weather outlook for central and western Upper Michigan beginning at around 5 a.m. (EDT) Sunday affecting Keweenaw, Ontonagon, Houghton, Baraga, Marquette, Alger, Luce, Gogebic, Iron, Dickinson, Menominee, Delta, and Schoolcraft counties. While the hazardous weather outlook took went into effect at 5 a.m. Sunday, significant snow didn’t actually appear in the Houghton area until several hours later, after 11 a.m.

Calling it a “Potentially historic blizzard,” the weather event was expected to create “treacherous and potentially life-threatening” travel conditions and could result in tree damage and power outages. Snow amounts of 1-3 feet were expected (locally up to 4 feet north – central and eastern U.P.) with wind speeds of 35-65 mph. Strongest winds were expected Sunday afternoon in the Keweenaw Peninsula and along the lakeshores of Lake Superior.

Large waves on the Great Lakes increase the risk of beach erosion and lakeshore flooding for all Lake Superior lakeshores beginning tonight. According to the National Weather Service, the severe weather is expected until early Tuesday morning.

Universities and schools took pro-active measures Saturday and early Sunday in anticipation of the blizzard. At 5 p.m. Saturday, Michigan Technological University issued a statement that all University offices and most university facilities would be closed Sunday and Monday and that Monday’s classes, including online classes were canceled.

According to the statement from Michigan Tech, Essential residential and dining operations will remain open, but the closure will affect all athletic and recreation facilities including the Student Development Complex including the Fitness Center, the Gates Tennis Center, Tech Trails and Mont Ripley.

In addition all shuttle services, campus and city routes, will not operate, Little Huskies will be closed Monday, the Mineral Museum will be closed and the Van Pelt and Opie Library will be closed, although the 24-hour space will be available.

In Marquette, Northern Michigan University announced it will be closed Sunday and Monday, due to inclement weather. The Library, Dome, PEIF, Fitzone, Berry Events Center, Health Center and Pharmacy are also closed. On Sunday, Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College cancelled Monday classes as did Bay College’s Escanaba and Iron Mountain campuses.

Dozens of Upper Peninsula churches canceled Sunday morning services due to the impending weather, and several government offices, including the Houghton County Courthouse announced Monday closures. Several U.P. schools announced Monday closures early and by mid afternoon, most schools in the central and western peninsula, including Houghton and Keweenaw County schools, Baraga, L’Anse, Ontonagon, ET-C and Watersmeet had cancelled Monday classes.

The National Weather Service has also issued a Lakeshore Flood Warning for Houghton and Keweenaw Counties through 11 p.m. Monday. Significant lakeshore flooding is expected with wave heights of 15 to 25 feet possible. Numerous roads could close and low lying property including parking lots, lawns, and homes and businesses may be inundated near the lake. Some shoreline erosion will occur.

As announced earlier Sunday the Daily Mining Gazette will not publish a print edition Monday, nor will one be delivered via the mail or be available at retail outlets.

The paper will be available in an online addition to Gazette subscribers.